the contella/jansen crew

Boys of Fall

2010-10-06T13:43:00.001-07:00

Football season is here and we have been the super busy. Football practice 4 days a week and games all day Saturday. Grace has gymnastics every Tuesday. Taylor is in cross country this year and has meets every Friday night. So fun to watch the kids learn new sports and perfect them throughout the season. Go Longhorns! Go Raiders!

Payton hurt his wrist last weekend at a game. We really thought he had broken it but thank goodness it was just a sprain. He has a splint on and we have had to take it easy the past few weeks. I think he secretly likes the attention he gets from wearing the splint.

Grace just started school this month at Primrose in The Woodlands. She loves school and has learned so much in such a short time. She has a best friend named Emma. I am enjoying her so much. She is talking and has the best vocabulary. She loves gymnastics and loves to dance. I enrolled her in a dance class at school - I thought that it would be ballet and tap but Jared picked her up one day and they were "raising the roof" and "breaking sticks". It is too funny. She was showing the boys and I what she had learned last night and we were cracking up.

We have a new ritual every day after school which is going to the store next door to Primrose and buying an ice cream sandwich. It's her favorite thing right now. So cute.

Grace also adopted a new kitten this month. She named her Millie. Cute pics of Grace and Millie on the way home from the pet store.

Gearing up for Halloween. I just ordered Grace's Halloween costume. A fairy princess. So far she has been a flower, ballet dancer, bumble bee and now a fairy. I will post the pics when it comes in. Still need to take the boys to pick their costumes out. I am sure they will be scary and will involve fake blood. Costumes not so cute when they get older.

Will try to get on here more ofter. Bye for now.

Cute pic's of Grace

2008-09-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Grace is growing up!!!!

2008-09-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

I took Grace to our favorite photographer Joyelle. The pic's really show her personality.
Sweet Grace is 18 months old now - she talks like crazy, LOVES to go to the park and loves to be read to. She thinks she is such a big girl and can even keep up with her big brothers.

1st Birthday Pic's

2008-05-12T09:40:00.003-07:00

1st Birthday Pic

2008-05-12T09:40:00.001-07:00

Grace has teeth!!!

2008-05-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Grace took so long to get her teeth. She got her two bottom teeth at 10 months - then .... nothing. The other day - Grace was playing with my phone and called my mom on accident. She heard my mom talking and she opened her mouth as wide as she could with excitement. There they were - 4 teeth on top!!!!! I look at her every day but I swear they just all came at once! She looks soooo cute. We now have a total of 6 teeth and she thinks she is such a big girl. I have not had time to take a pic but I will try to get one up tomorrow.
Things at work have been crazy busy. We had a murder trial last week. A step-father killed his two year old step-son and it was ruled shaken baby. The trial lasted a week. The dad was found guilty and got 30 years. I cried all week. My kids have been getting lots of hugs.
This week we had a capital murder that was to start today but the guy jumped bond. He was facing life in prison so I guess he felt like "what are they going to do if i don't show up?". It sort of makes me laugh even though it is not funny at all.
I can not believe that school is almost out!!! This year has gone by so fast. The boys are going to camp Mo-Ranch this year in Hunt, Texas. Taylor has been going but this is the first year that Payton is old enough. They are very excited.
Jared and I are planing a trip to the Florida Keys in June. It has been a very long time since we have been on vacation together. We are looking forward to fishing, food and lots of r and r.
I am still recovering from the surgery I had last month. It really has not been as hard as I thought it would. I am supposed to be resting and taking it easy - however - I have been working and NOT taking it easy. SHOCKER!! I have had some complications due to my lack of rest - but - it seems like everything will be fine.
Last but not least - Jared has been taking Grace and I out on the boat in Lake Conroe the past few weekends. GRACE LOVES THE BOAT!!! She loves being out on the water and she loves to touch her dads fish when he catches them. She is going to be a water baby for sure. She also loves for Jared to go fast on the boat - the faster the better. She is such a dare devil. When we ask her "Grace, do you want to go on the boat?" she answers "Ya" - It is so cute!!!!

EDWARDS WINS!!!

2008-03-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Go Fredo!!!!! Mama gets to keep her job 4 more years!!!!!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

2008-02-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

Nidia just e-mailed me these pics of Grace playing on the back porch. Nidia always dresses her so cute. I love the snotty nose and dirty face - that rocks!!!Grace had a hard night last night (really this morning at 4am). She woke up at 4 - i went and got her then put her in bed with us - she started throwing up - for 2 hours!!! I assume she has a stomach virus although none of us have had it. Nidia took good care of her today and put her on the BRAT diet - she has not been sick since so hopefully it is over. Poor baby -
I just got flowers at my office from Jared - what a nice guy - I love getting flowers!!!!!!!!!! I think it is so thoughtful -

Grace is turning one!!!!!

2008-02-12T22:13:00.000-08:00

I can not believe our baby is turning one!!!!! It seems like it was just yesterday that Jared was putting her crib together and painting her room pink. She is walking and starting to talk! She is saying "da da", "moma babba", "brother", "kitty" and "ball" - now - I'm not saying her words are super clear - but her mommy, daddy and brothers know what she is saying. She is such an awesome baby and has brought such joy to all of our lives.
I have been very busy at work. Judge has an opponent so we are out a few nights per week campaigning. - (i.e. - going to great restaurants and drinking good wine - it's tough in the political world) - so - Jared has really had to step up to the plate. He would keep Grace for me when I would go to the grocery store and things like that - but never for hours at a time. Now - he comes home to cook dinner, helps with homework, gives Grace her bath then puts all three kids to bed by 8:30. Wow - he has even changed two poopy diapers. He told me the other day that he now feels bad for going on overnight fishing trips because he did not realized how much I did. I thought that was nice of him to say - and i notice he is not as quick to take an out of town trip to fish -
As far as work goes - Janica (jared's sister) is helping us at the office for a month while we get ready for this election. I have had to take on so much so Judge hired her to help me. I have an assistant and it is awesome!!!!!! (although I still miss Sarah who will be back March 1st- she is studying for the bar exam so she took some time off to focus). Janica is so fun to work with and she keeps me laughing out loud all day. We are hoping that Fred lets her stay after the election (can we keep her fred? please.) We will know our fate on March 4th (jared's birthday and election day). We need to pray for Judge Edwards and hope that he does well in this election. He has been a Judge for 16 years and I have been with him 10!!!! We are family and he has been like a dad to me. Check out his website at www.fedwards.com and don't for get to vote!!!!!

Another Paytonism

2008-01-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

Payton ran home from the bus stop today. He stormed in the door and said " I've got a jolly rancher!". "What?", I asked. He said "I'VE GOT A JOLLY RANCHER!". I said, "Do you mean a charlie horse?". Payton replied, "Yes, I've got a charlie horse - my side is hurting from running.".

Montgomery Elementary had an awards ceremony today for the first semester. Payton got all 'A' honor roll. GOOD JOB!!!!! The only bad thing about it is that Jared told him if he got all A's on his report card for the semester he would give him $100. Jared forgot that he had said that. Payton didn't. Sorry Jared.

Grace is Walking!!!!!

2008-01-24T19:21:00.000-08:00

Today Grace walked. She has been taking steps here and there but today she just would not stop. I am so excited that I was able to get it on tape. She thinks she is big time now. I can not believe she is walking at 10 months. Go Girl!!!!

Maybe it's because they are mine .. but... I think these boys are super handsome!!!

2008-01-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

These boys are always saying the funniest things - especially Payton. Yesterday we ate lunch with my mom at Chili's (Taylor and Payton's favorite restaurant because of the chocolate cake and ice cream) - Payton told my mom "You know Meema - life is a journey - not a destination." WHAT? Where do they get this stuff?

Grace fell and hurt her eye tonight. She is fine however - the first thing that Payton said was "Oh no, what are we going to tell Nidia?"

Cute Pic's of Kids

2008-01-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

I took the kids to this photographer in Conroe that I was referred to by my friend Jennifer Picklo - Her name is Joyelle and her website is http://www.photographybyjoyelle.com/ - she was awesome and I was totally happy with their pics - take a gander....